A China Airlines Airbus 340-300 prepares to take off from Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport in southwest of Taipei, Wednesday. Taiwan's biggest airline said Wednesday it has received Beijing's

An Airbus 340-300 of Taiwan's China Airline prepares to take off from Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport in southwest of Taipei Wednesday. The biggest airline of the island said Wednesday it has received Beijing's approval to allow its Europe-bound flights to fly through mainland airspace to avoid the Mideast during the Iraq war. It's the first time in more than five decades that Taiwanese aircraft are allowed to fly over Chinese mainland. [AP]